The charity set up in memory of Holmfirth teenager Huw Thatcher has received another boost.

Holmfirth High School sports teacher Ryan Blezard - who taught Huw - has raised more than £1,000 by completing one of Europe’s toughest obstacle course challenges.

He took part in the Mens’s Health Survival of the Fittest challenge in Manchester.

The 10km course was packed with 50 of the most difficult assault course obstacles including walls, net climbs, giant tyres and water-filled ditches.

It also included some challenges at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium - including running up and down all the stands.

Ryan, 29, said: “The challenge was tough but I completed it in an official time of 1hr 12 placing me at 138th out of 2112. Had it not been for some traffic on obstacles I would have hit the top 50 as I got an unofficial time of 1hr 4mins.

Nick Thatcher (left) thanks Holmfirth High School teacher, Ryan Bleazard for raising money for the Huw Thatcher Trust. Pictured in front of Huw's memorial.

“That aside I have managed to raise as it stands £880 which with gift aid goes above £1000.

“I’ve always been interested in fitness and training with my job being a PE teacher and I thought it about time to set myself a goal of completing something that is going to push me on all fronts in terms of physicality and mental strength and this seemed the perfect one for that.

“More so, I wanted to take the opportunity to continue to raise the profile and raise some funds of an amazing charity in the Huw Thatcher Trust.

“I had the pleasure of teaching Huw in my early days at Holmfirth High School; he was one of the most kind-hearted and talented students who was the captain of the first ever school side I coached.

“His legacy and memory is now firmly embedded into the school community and none more so than in the PE department where our students walk past his signed shirt hanging with pride on the PE corridor on a daily basis, inspiring the youngsters of the future”.

Huw Thatcher

Fifteen-year-old Huw suddenly collapsed and died while playing football for Hepworth United in March 2011. He had suffered a brain haemorrhage resulting from a pre-existing condition no-one could have known about.

The Huw Thatcher Trust was set up and the ceaseless energy of Huw’s pals and cousins organising countless fundraising events, from gigs to cycling and karate challenges, has led to them raising tens of thousands of pounds for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust in his name.